The Endocrine System

In honor of our hormone masterclasses, let's celebrate part of what makes us feminine in nature—our endocrine system! Today, let’s focus on what our bodies can do rather than beating ourselves up over our hormone issues. This feels like a good time to remind you that you’re probably blaming the wrong thing. Remember, something made us out of whack to begin with! It’s not your hormones’ fault – they’ve become the scapegoat over time.

You may already know this, but your endocrine system is composed of all of your body’s different hormones. The endocrine system is a messenger system that begins at conception and while often changing, takes you through adulthood and even old age. Can you see why the whole system can get a little sluggish? It’s incredible how well it holds it together for us, sending messages through hormone releases and performing different tasks based on where the message comes from. Your brain, your nervous system, your reproductive system, your blood sugar, and even your metabolism are impacted by your endocrine system.

What Is The Endocrine System Responsible For?

As mentioned above, it's a messenger system. Hormones are produced by glands and sent into the bloodstream to the various tissues in the body. They send signals to those tissues to tell them what they are supposed to do. When the glands do not produce the right amount of hormones, diseases develop that can affect many aspects of life. The endocrine system functions throughout the body and plays a role in: respiratory, metabolism, reproduction, sensory, sexual development, and more. As you can see, this is a dynamic system and while it’s not solely in charge of these functions, it plays a significant role!

Sometimes glands produce too much or not enough of a hormone. This imbalance can cause health problems, such as weight gain, high blood pressure, and changes in sleep, mood, and behavior. Many things can affect how your body creates and releases hormones. Illness, stress, and certain medications can cause a hormone imbalance. Think adrenal glands, which we discuss often because they’re frequently the instigator of the imbalance. The adrenal glands are directly impacted by cortisol, which indicates whether or not we’re managing stress well.

What Disrupts Our Endocrine System?

As we just mentioned, stress is one of the most significant disruptors of the endocrine system. And it’s not just stress, but our lack of managing it well. Everyone deals with stress on different levels daily, so it’s not like we can or should avoid it altogether. That just isn’t realistic. We just need to handle it with care.

Now, let’s discuss the environmental disruptors over which we have some control. Synthetic chemicals in products like plastics and fragrances can mimic hormones and interfere with or disrupt the delicate endocrine dance. We’re exposed to these chemicals daily.

We’re talking about:

• Artificial fragrances

• Plastics and BPA found in plastic

• Flame retardant chemicals

• Pesticides in food

• Pesticides used to treat grass and areas around the house

• Tap water and the residue found in them (like birth control pills)

• Cosmetics and beauty products that contain parabens, among other EDCs (endocrine disrupting chemicals)

We covered non-toxic living in our membership in the 2nd quarter of 2024. You can also find research on reducing toxins and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) through other channels. Being aware of what’s in our daily products is the key.

How Can We Reduce Disruptions?

• Following CCN’s feel-good philosophy, you probably already exercise and detox often. We teach you how to detox with food and share more detox methods during our Spring challenge every year.

• Take a trace mineral supplement, which helps to bind to harmful toxins and push them out of your body.

• Get rid of any personal products that contain fragrances, parabens, sulfates, pesticides, etc.

• Run HEPA air filters in your home

• Get a water filtration system in your home

What Can We Do To Improve Endocrine Function And Efficiency?

You’re already doing so much to support your hormones and create balance in your body. Eating for stable blood sugar plays a huge role in optimizing your endocrine system. Since insulin is a hormone itself, it directly impacts how and when other hormones are released. When we manage insulin well, we naturally support the rest of our hormonal cycles.

It’s amazing how it always comes back to food, right? That’s why we always say it starts with what’s on your plate. Nourishing your body and keeping blood sugar balanced is the foundation for so many aspects of health!